With the aim of strengthening the cyber security of Latvia's energy infrastructure, the Latvian electricity transmission system operator JSC "Augstsprieguma tīkls" (AST), the unified natural gas transmission and storage operator JSC "Conexus Baltic Grid" (Conexus) and the information technology security incident prevention institution CERT.LV have signed mutual understandings memorandum on the establishment and management of the cyber security center of energy infrastructure operators, thus also developing the mutual cooperation of all institutions.

The creation of a Cyber ​​Security Center for Energy Infrastructure Operators is the first step towards building cyber security capabilities specifically focused on the energy sector. This is important in the face of an increasing number of cyber security incidents across the country, especially in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The memorandum envisages the development of certain procedures for the exchange of information between the participating parties in the event of cyber security incidents and their prevention, being able to respond promptly to this type of incidents.

"Energy infrastructure is no longer just a collection of various metal products, it is a complicated system in which various information technology solutions play an increasingly important role. Information is already being exchanged between the signatories of the memorandum at the operational level, and it is planned to formalize the cooperation in order to determine the the party's involvement, rights, obligations and responsibility, preventing cyber security threats both preventively and proactively, as well as when facing real attacks", says AST board member Arnis Daugulis.

"Safety of the natural gas infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted supply of natural gas, is always our highest priority. That is why it is our duty to protect the energy infrastructure against growing and changing cyber threats with the highest responsibility, ensuring coordinated inter-institutional cooperation," informs Uldis Bariss, Chairman of the Board of Conexus.

"This memorandum marks an important step towards a common understanding of cyber security goals and their achievement in the energy sector of Latvia. Such cooperation provides an opportunity to ensure faster and more efficient exchange of information between the parties involved, as well as proactive response to incidents. Making the energy sector safer and more resilient against cyber threats strengthens also all other energy-dependent sectors, not only in Latvia, but also in Europe," adds Dr. Bernhards Blumbergs, leading cyber security expert at CERT.LV.

The parties who signed the memorandum do not rule out that in the future it is possible to expand this initiative with other participants in Latvia or the region.